Russell Simmons pulls Harriet Tubman video: 'I am sincerely sorry'

Russell Simmons has taken down a comedy video parodying the story of real-life African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

The clip, titled ADD History: Harriet Tubman Sex Tape on All Def Digital starred DeStorm Power, Shanna Malcolm and Jason Horton, and was billed as an "off-record account of how Harriet Tubman blackmailed her master into letting her run the Underground Railroad".

Simmons said in a statement: "In the whole history of Def Comedy Jam, I've never taken down a controversial comedian.

"When my buddies from the NAACP called and asked me to take down the Harriet Tubman video from the All Def Digital YouTube channel and apologize, I agreed."

He added: "I'm a very liberal person with thick skin. My first impression of the Harriet Tubman piece was that it was about what one of actors said in the video, that 162 years later, there's still tremendous injustice.

"And with Harriet Tubman outwitting the slave master? I thought it was politically correct. Silly me. I can now understand why so many people are upset.

"I have taken down the video. Lastly, I would never condone violence against women in any form, and for all of those I offended, I am sincerely sorry."

Tubman, who died in 1913, worked on the Underground Railroad - a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to free states and Canada.